Another official in Mangalore to investigate pub attack

MANGALORE: Union Minister of Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury has sent Kiran Chadha, Joint Secretary (Women Bureau), Union Ministry of Women and Child Development, to Mangalore to inquire into the attack on January 24 against women guests at a local pub by Sri Rama Sene activists.

Ms. Chadha, who arrived here on Sunday, visited the pub and met several people, including officials and women.

Speaking to presspersons after the visit, she said that she would submit her report to the Minister on Monday.

“I met a lot of people, including women and priests. I do not want to disclose the identity of women or divulge more information at this stage,” she said adding that the women were “scared to move out of their houses during the day.”

She said that an earlier commission deputed by the National Women Commission to inquire into the attack was yet to submit its report to the commission.

Meanwhile, Nirmala Venatesh, member of the National Commission for Women (NCW), who headed the three-member inquiry team on the pub attack said that she would submit the team’s report to NCW on Monday.

Unfazed by the Centre’s decision to despatch a person from the Ministry of Women and Child Development to investigate the same case, she said that it was “routine” and would have no bearing on her report.

Ms. Venkatesh’s statements in Mangalore had stirred a hornet’s nest as she blamed the pub owner for failing to provide proper security to the women and recommended cancelling of its licence.

NCW Chairperson Girija Vyas had disagreed with Ms. Venkatesh stating that the NCW’s “primary concern are the victims of the attack.” She was irked because Ms. Venkatesh and team had not met the victims in Mangalore.

Muthalik statement

From the jail ward in the District Hospital in Madikere on Sunday, Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Muthalik said he would not relent till he achieved the goal of building a “Hindu rashtra” in the country.

Speaking to presspersons, he said the State Government should not buckle under pressure from the Opposition parties in the State and Centre to order a crackdown against the Sene.

Mr. Muthalik was brought here from Mangalore around midnight on January 31. He is wanted by the Kodagu police in connection with a charge sheet filed against him for delivering a provocative speech at a function in Gonicoppa of Virajpet taluk in Kodagu in 2003.

Minister gheraoed

Bidar Staff Correspondent reports:

Members of district unit of Sri Rama Sene gheraoed Bidar district in-charge Minister Revu Naik Belamagi on Sunday demanding that the Government take steps to get founder of the sene Pramod Mutahlik released from police custody.

Mr. Muthalik has been arrested by the police in connection with the attack on girls at a Mangalore pub recently.

Mr. Belamagi was here to attend a mass marriage ceremony at B.V.B. College grounds when members of the sene gheraoed him.

In a memorandum submitted to Mr. Belamagi, the members said, Mr. Muthalik has been arrested even though he had no role in the Mangalore pub attack incident.

The members termed the arrest of Mr. Muthalik as “politically motivated.” They urged Mr. Belamagi to get Mr. Muthalik released from police custody.

Responding to the memorandum, Mr. Belamagi assured the members that he would speak to Minister for Home V. S. Acharya on the matter.